Chapter 2: The Woman Who Disappeared
Victor stared at his son.
For two softly.
“He's confused. He's in pain.””
Victor's years, he'd trained himself not to react to that word.
Mom eyes stayed on her.
“Back away.””
Her smile disappeared.
“Victor.””
“Backmy.
Not because Noah's mother was dead.
Because Isabella Blackwood had vanished away from my son.””
Serena took one step backward.
Victor carried Noah into.
One rainy October night, Victor had returned from London to find her the entrance hall as sirens approached outside.
He felt closet half-empty and her wedding ring sitting on the boy trembling against his chest.
“You're safe,” Victor whispered.
“Daddy's here.””
Noah's tiny his desk.
There had been a letter.
I can't live this life anymore.
fingers tightened around his collar.
Then Victor heard himDon't look for me.
Victor had looked anyway whisper something.
So quietly that he almost missed it.
“Daddy…”
“Yes?””
No.
Private investigators found nothing.
No credit-card activity.
ah lifted his tear-streaked face.
“It wasn't Grace.””
Victor stopped walkingNo flights.
No confirmed sightings.
Eventually, Victor accepted.
Behind him, Serena inhaled sharply.
Victor looked down at his son.
“Then who the explanation Serena had gently repeated whenever grief hurt you?””
Noah's eyes moved past Victor's shoulder.
Straight toward Serena.
And Serena consumed him.
Isabella had chosen to leave.
But now his three-year-old son was whispering said, very softly—
“No her name from a hospital bed.
May you like
Victor leaned closer.
“What do you mean, Mommy disappearedah. Don't.””
